July 1, 2008

Serena soars into Semis

Serena Williams bulldozed her way into the last four after defeating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-0 in just 51 minutes on Centre Court. It was the most impressive performance from Serena so far at this year's tournament. Radwanska was blasted off court by a barrage of 11 aces, all of them comfortably in excess of 100 miles an hour, and another 20 unreturned serves. Serena cranked up the power game with three aces in four points and broke Radwanska for the second time with a crunching backhand service return, standing well inside the baseline to receive the Pole's delivery.


Radwanska's best hope lay in wrong-footing Williams but she was being permitted less and less time to do so as Serena, sensing a wilting opponent, served out for the first set in 32 minutes. Radwanska, who won the Eastbourne tournament immediately preceding Wimbledon and has made the transition from junior to senior tennis in admirable fashion, needed to get away to a good start in the second set, but was never given the slightest chance of doing so. She was broken at once and with Williams walloping aces and service winners seemingly at will the second set rapidly became an embarrassing rout, lasting a mere 19 minutes.

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